Printing and punching means for accounting machines



March 20, 1951 O. J. SUNDSTRAND PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Original Filed June 24, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR OSCARJ'SZ/NDSTRAIVD ATTO RN EY March 20, 1951 o. J. SUNDSTRAND 2,545,636

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Original Filed June 24, 1941 1'7 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR OJCA/FJSl/IVDSTRA/VD ATTORN EY March 20, 1951 o. J. SUNDSTRAND PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 24, 1941 INVENTOR OSCARJ. .SllA/DSTRAND ATTORNEY March 20, 1951 o. J. SUNDSTRAND PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES l7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed June 24, 1941 Nx B P Q AL m 3 0 MN Q Q 0 0 w. s Q ga \N\ 43656 March 20, 1951 o. J. SUNDSTRAND 2,545,636

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PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Original Filed June 21, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 BY I ATTORN March 20, 1951 o. J. SUNDSTRAND 2,545,636

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Original Filed June 24, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet '7 OSCARJ SU/YDST/PA/VD ATTOR NEY March 20, 1951 o. J. SUNDSTRAND PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed June 24, 1941 INVENTOR 0601/? J. JuA/psmA/w BY ,6;

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PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Original Filed June 24, 1941 1''! Sheets-Sheet l0 a a 49 ma UNITS TENS INVENTOR OSCARSUND5TRAND BY I All/MER/C c005 ATTORNEY March 20, 1951 o. J. SUNDSTRAND 2,545,636

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Original Filed June 24, 1941 1? Sheets-Sheet ll INVENTOR 0SCARSUNDS7RAND BY I 6 ATTORNEY March 1951 o. J. SUNDSTRAND 2,545,63fi

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Original Filed June 24, 1941 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 12 ATTORNEY March 20, 1951 o. J. SUNDSTRAND PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES l7 Sheets-Sheet 13 Original Filed June 24, 1941 o, J. SUNDSTRAND 2,545,636 PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES l7 SheetsSheet l5 INVENTOR 0.5mm. SUNDSTRAND I ATTORNEY March 29, 1951 Original Filed June 24, 1941 March 20, 1951 o. J. SUNDSTRAND 2,545,536

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Original Filed June 24, 1941 1'? Sheets-Sheet 16 K266. TOM

" ATTORNEY March 20, 1901 o. J. SUNDSTRAND 2,545,636

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Original Filed June 24, 1941 17 Sheets-Sheet l7 5 1 INVENTOR OSCAR J. WNDSTRAND I ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 20, 1951 PRINTING AND PUNCHING MEANS FOR- ACCOUNTING MACHINES Oscar J. Sundstrand, West Hartford, Conn., as-

signor to Underwood Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application June 24, 1941, Serial No.

Divided and this application August 20, 1945, Serial No. 611,539

Claims. 1

This invention relates to accounting machines and more particularly to a machine for printing, proving and punching public utility company bills.

Utility companies, such as for example, electric power companies, generally render their customers monthly bill showing in kilowatt-hours the previous and present meter readings and the difference between the two, this difference being the consumption of electricity by the user. Many companies find it desirable to use bills of the punched card type such as used by the well-known McBee Keysort System, in which code slots, representative of the Consumption amount, are punched in the card to facilitate rapid sorting and analysis for classification of the user.

In performing such billing operations, the Previous and Present amounts are taken from the meter readers book, together with his computation of the difference, and are indexed in the accounting machine keyboard by the operator. In this method of billing there is obviously the possibility that either the meter reader or operator has made an error in reading or handling the amounts.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a machine for receiving separately the several amounts involved in a single transaction of the character above described, for printing the amounts upon the bill or work piece, for automatically computing the amounts to prove the transaction, and further, for automatically punching one of the amounts in the bill if, and only if, the entries are correct.

With this and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims, and a preferred embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of the specification.

This application constitutes a division of applicants co-pending application, Serial No. 399,461, filed June 24, 1941, now Patent Number 2,459,468, issued January 18, 1949.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an accounting machine embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a right side elevation showing the cross footer, registers, punch selector mechanism, type bars and actuating mechanism,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the motor and the associated machine cycling mechanism,

2 Figure 4 is a detail front elevation of the motor clutch mechanism,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of the automatic control cams,

Figure 6 is a right side elevation of the crossfooter engaging, actuating and automatic subtraction control mechanism,

Figure '7 is a right side elevation of the register selecting, engaging and actuating mechanism,

Figure 8 is a perspective view (taken from the right) of the type bars, crossfooter, the actuating racks therefor and the bill count mechanism,

Figure 9 i a front elevation of the A and B registers,

Figure 19 is a perspective view (taken from the right) of the mechanism for retaining amounts indexed until the appropriate cycle.

Figure 11 is a fragmental top plan view of certain parts of the left keyboard amount indexing mechanism and showing its connection with the amount clearing and retention mechanism,

Figure 12 is a perspective view (taken from the left) of the tally roll support and platen, the bill chute and an automatic bill locating member,

Figure 13 is a left side elevation of certain conventional ribbon lift mechanism that controls operation of the automatic bill locating lever,

Figure 14 is a right side elevation of the platen line spacing mechanism in normal position, i. e., at the end of a third machine cycle,

Figure 15 is a fragmental view similar to Figure 14 but with the parts shown in the positions which they occupy at the end of the first machine cycle,

Figure 16 is a perspective view (taken from the left) showing the manual, Classification punch selecting mechanism together with latch and restoring means therefor,

Figure 17 is a detail left side elevation showing the connection of certain parts of the manual punch latch restoring mechanism,

Figure 18 is a detail left side elevation of the manual punch latch slide,

Figure 19 is a right side elevation of the punch actuating mechanism and the automatic punch selector latches, the parts being shown in the positions they occupy just prior to a punching operation,

Figure 20 is a perspective view (taken from the right) showing the Consumption amount, punch selecting mechanism and the automatic controls therefor,

Figure 21 is a detail perspective view (taken from the left) of the Consumption amount punch selector slides,

Figure 22 is a right side elevation of the Consumption amoun punch selector latch restoring mechanism in normal position, i. e., at the end of a third machine cycle,

Figure 23 is a view similar to Figure 22, with the parts shown in the positions that they occupy midway of the first half of the first machine cycle,

Figure 24 is a View similar to Figure 2.1 but with the parts shown in the positions that they occupy at the end of the first half of the first cycle,

Figure 25 is a view similar to Figure 24 but with the parts shown in the positions that they occupy at the end of a first machine cycle,

Figure 26 is a perspective view (taken from the left) showing the punch actuating and restoring mechanism and the automatic proof control for the punch actuating mechanism, the parts being shown in the positions they occupy after the completion of a third machine cycle and the punches having been actuated,

Figure 2'7 is a right side elevation of the mechanisms shown in Figure 26 but with the parts shown in the positions that they occupy at the end of a first machine cycle,

Figure 28 is a detail right side elevation of a crossfooter wheel, I

Figure 29 is a perspective View (taken from the left) of the automatic bill ejecting mechanism with the parts shown in the positions that they occupy prior to ejection of a bill,

Figure 30 is a left side sectional elevation of the ejecting mechanism with the parts shown in the positions that they occupy after the ejection of a bill,

Figures 31 and 32 are similar detail elevations of certain parts shown in Figures 29 and 30, showing the movement of these parts during an ecti p a n Figure 33 is a diagrammatic view of a printed and punched bill together with a tally showing normal and various other billing operations,

Figure 34 is a view similar to Figure 33 but showing a dual meter reading billing operation,

Figure 35 is a right side elevation of a noncount key andassociated parts,

Figure 36 is a perspective view (taken from the left) showing certain of th parts shown in Figure; 35 together with mechanism for effecting dual line printing upon the bills,

Figure 37 is a detail right side elevation of the type bars. showing the arrangement of certain hammer release mechanism for enabling independent printing of zeros by the units order bars,

Figure 38 is a perspective view (taken from the right) showing certain blank cycle enforcing mechanism and its connection with the manual control key, conventional type bar detents, an auxiliary zero printing detent and the crossfooter and register total key control for these detents,

Figure 39 is a detail plan view showing the conventional detents in normal position,

Figure 40 is a View similar to Figure 39 but with the detents shown in their moved positions,

Figure 41 is a fragmental detail right side, elevation of the register and crossfooter total slides and their connection with the detent control, and,

Figure 42 is, a perspective view (taken from the right) of the manual control key and associated mechanism for disablin automatic control of the machine.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION In many respects the presentmachine is similar to the one disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,194,-

270 to Oscar J. Sundstrand. The machine in-* cludes a keyboard having punch setting keys, operation controlling keys and two groups (left and right) of amount keys. The machine has a chute for supporting front fed forms or bills and a stationary carriage having a platen for supporting rear fed paper. It has three totalizers,

which, in the following description will be referred to as the crossfooter and registers A and B, the crossfooter being capable of adding and. subtracting, and the registers being capable of adding only. Registers A and B are divided into two sections, making each capable of accumulating two separate amounts.

The machine has the usual type bars and associated actuators that are adjustable under the control of stops set by the amount keys. The actuators associated with the left group of amount keys are arranged to add amounts entered in that group in the crossfooter and the left sections of the A and B registers and the actuators associated with the right group of amount keys are arranged to subtract amounts entered in that group from the crossfooter and add said amounts in the right section of the B register. A series of control cams that are rotated during each machine cycle, automatically control the various machine operations that may be initiated manually by the keyboard. A key is provided for conditioning the machine for automatic control by the cams, or manual control by the keys.

A series of punches is provided, certain of which are automatically set for punching code slots in the bill corresponding to one of the amounts entered on the left group of amount keys, and others of which are. manually set by the punch setting keys for punching slots designating various classifications. Sensing mechanism under the control of the crossfooter and a part of the machine cycling mechanism is provided so that all of the set punches will be actuated upon the completion of a billing operation if the proper amounts are entered.

The, machine is started by depression of a motor bar. In a single billing operation, the motor bar is depressed twice, the first depression causing the machine to cycle once, and the second depression causing the machine to cycle twice. Hereinafter these cycles will be referred to as the first, second and third machine cycles.

In order that the following description may be more readily understood, a skeleton outline of the sequence of machine operations in rendering a bill for an electric power consumer will now be given. It will be understood that the choice of an electric power company as a user of the machine is illustrative only and simply gives a typical example of one of the many uses to which the machine is adapted. In such billing operations, the (kilowatt-hour) Consumption amount is indexed in the left amount keyboard and the motor bar depressed to initiate the first machine cycle. During this cycle the Consumption amount is printed on a tally strip. and added in the crossfooter and in the left section of the A register. Also during this cycle, a bill count. of 1 is automatically efiected in. the right (counter) side of the A register, and punches representative of the Consumption amount are automatically set, ready to punch the code slots in the bill. Following this first cycle, the billis inserted in the chute, the manually controlled. classification punches are set, the Previous and Present meter reading amounts are indexed in the left and right amount 5. keys, respectively, and the motor bar is depressed to initiate the second cycle. Durin this cycle the Previous amount is printed on the bill and added in the crossfooter and in the left section of the B register. The Present meter reading amount is held indexed in the keyboard but is non-printed and non-accumulated during this second cycle. During the third cycle, the Presen meter reading amount is printed upon the bill, is added in the right section of the B register, and is subtracted from the crossfooter.

Following the third machine cycle, if the crossfooter is cleared, as it will be if the amounts entered are correct (i. e., if the total of the Consumption and Previous amounts equals the subtracted Present amount) the punches will be automatically actuated to punch slots representative of the Consumption amount and the classification in the bill. Following this punching, the bill is automatically ejected.

At the end of a days billing, the machine is conditioned for manual control by depressing the manual control key. Thereupon, totals of the Consumption amounts and the bill count are taken from the A register. Likewise, totals of the Previous and Present meter readings are taken from the B register.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION Index 1 topics 1. The Machine Sections and 'Actuating Mechanism.

2. The Machine Cycling Mechanism.

3. Crossfooter Engagement and Actuation.

4. Register Selection, Engagement and Actuation.

5. Bill Counter.

6. Mechanism for Retaining Indexed Amounts in the Indexing Mechanism.

7. Releasing Present Amount Type Bars.

8. Paper Supporting and Feeding Apparatus.

9. Punch Mechanism Generally.

10. Manual Punch Selecting and Latching Mechanism.

11. Automatic Punch Selecting and Latching Mechanism.

12. Punch Actuating Mechanism.

13. Automatic Proof Control for Punch Actuating Mechanism.

14. Automatic Bill Ejecting Mechanism.

15. Normal Billing Operation.

16. Dual Meter Reading Bills.

1'7. Duplicate Bills.

18. Printing Zeros.

19. Manual Operation Control Key.

20. Taking Totals.

21. Correcting Errors.

1. The machine sections and actuating mechanism Referring to Figure l, the machine includes the customary keyboard having two sets (left and right) of amount keys I and 2, punch setting keys 3, operation controlling keys 4, a manual control key 5 and a motor bar 6. The machine has a roller platen 1 around which a tally 8 is fed, a chute 9 being provided in front of the tally for receiving bills or work sheets from a supply magazine l2 for printin by type bars I3.

A series of punches such as H (Figure 2) located to the rear of an aperture l 5 (Figure 1) are arranged to punch slots in the lower edge of the bill. A removable container I6 is provided to receive the punchings.

The machine also has two registers designated A and B in Figure 2. Each register is comprised of a plurality of ten-tooth wheels and each is divided so as to constitute in effect two separate registers (see Figure 9). The registers are operable for addition only.

Situated in front of the registers is a crossfooter I! having a plurality of twenty-tooth wheels capable of both addition and subtraction.

The machine is arranged to be normally under the automatic control of cams indicated generally at l8 (see also Figure 5), mounted upon a cam shaft 1 9 that is normally rotated during the second half of each machine cycle. Automatic control by cams I8 may be disabled and manual control by keys 4 enabled by depression of the manual control key 5.

The mechanism for automatically selecting punches [4 for actuation is indicated generally at 2| and is suspended by posts 22 from the base of the machine.

The machine i operated by an actuating shaft: 23 that is arranged to be rocked first counterclockwise and then clockwise during each cycle of the machine under the control of the machine cycling mechanism, to be later described.

Two similar arms 24, only one of which is shown, are secured to drive shaft 23 and are each provided with rollers such as 25, that rest in cam slots in the forward ends of two similar arms such as 28, pivoted on a rod 21 and situated on opposite sides of type bars I3. A series of actuat ing levers such as 28, there being a lever for each type bar, are pivoted on rod 2'! between arms 26 v and are tensioned clockwise about the rod by springs such as 29 so that the upper edges of the levers rest against a tie rod 32 secured between arms 26. The forward ends of levers 28 are each pivoted at 33 to their corresponding type bars l3 which are guided for vertical movement in the machine frame. The rear end of each lever 22 is connected by pin and slot connection 34 to a bell crank 35 also pivoted on rod 21 adjacent each actuating lever. The rear ends of bell cranks are pivoted at 36 to corresponding register actuating racks 3! guided for vertical movement in the machine frame. Springs such as 38 connected between each bell crank and lever, normally tension the bell cranks counter-clockwise about rod 21 so that the pins of the pin and slot connections 34 are urged toward the upper edges of the slots for effecting a transfer from one order to the next higher order as disclosed in Patent 2,194,270. Referring to Figure 9, it will be noted that transfer lugs on the middle wheel of each group in the A and B registers are omitted, thus dividing each register into two separate and independent sections hereinafter referred to as the left and right sections.

Type bars l3 are divided into two groups indicated as Consumption and Previous and Presen in Figure 8. The left or Consumpticn and Previous group of type bars associated with the left set or" amount keys I (Figure 1) whereas the right or Present group is associated with the right set of amount keys 2. Rearward projections 39 (Figures 2 and 8) on the right group of type bars support a series of subtracting racks 42 on one side of the crossfooter wheels i! and similar but longer and offset projections 43 on the left group, support a series of adding racks M on the opposite side of the crossfooter. The usual pin and slot connections 45 are provided between the racks and the projections for transfer purposes, the transfer mechanism being identical 

